“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ~ Mother Theresa
One of my favorite topics! So much so I am going to write about it again for those who are newer to the blog.
Somewhere along the growing-up line, we are taught to put our lives on hold. I suspect it begins in Middle or High School, where we first get on the conveyor belt of socially sanctioned choices. You have to study hard, you have to play sports, you have to get good grades, you have to get into a good college, you have to get a good job, you have to …
I’m still not sure what good grades have to do with anything. Does it mean you are smarter than folks who do not have good grades. Not in my experience. It means you are good at producing whatever it is the schools think you should be producing. And since most of the school folks have spent most of their lives in the schools, how do they know what you need to succeed outside of that arena?
Training kids (or anyone) to get permission before they do anything makes it harder for them to ever do anything without feeling like they need to get permission.
Until someone in some corner office comes to their senses about how we school children, the vast majority of young adults will have a hard time “seizing the day,” which is what carpe diem means.
I first heard it uttered by Robin William’s character in the fantastic film, “Dead Poets Society.” One of those movies that actually changed my life. I had a hard time going after what I wanted but thought it was some personality flaw. That was in contrast to my life as a small child when I naturally went after what I wanted.
My school experience had begun to deaden me and then work — a continuation of school with a paycheck — made it worse. That film and other portals that opened in the universe saved me from throwing my life away pursuing things others wanted me to pursue because they had been told to pursue them.
The best way to learn to seize the day is to get a grip on the temporary nature of life. We are not here forever. In some cases, not long at all. And one never knows when that last day might occur. But you do have today, like Mother Theresa says, “So, do something today.”
Waiting for a good time to start is a trap because there isn’t one. The best time to start is now because you want to do it or you wouldn’t be thinking about it.
Pick some small thing you want to do and do it, even if you have to force yourself to do it. I have gotten into some ridiculous brawls with myself, when half of me wanted to do it and the other half was scared. Hey, it happens.
Try something small. And that will give you courage to keep going!
Book Writing Contest and other book events.
It is harder to put together a writing contest than I expected. Have finalized most of that and will be releasing information soon. The due date is moved to October so everyone who is interested in entering will be able to do so.
Here’s to feeling more alive!
Giulietta